Black Hole Sun (Open Thread)

[Rozumbrad]

Rozumbrad's only reaction to the coughing was to raise an eyebrow. It was definitely getting worse.

He released Cinder and stepped towards Fangor.

"I suppose it is the appropriate time of day for food," he said. There was no way he'd offer help him. Fangor would hate him for that.

[Fangor]

He cleared his throat a last time before shaking his head, mood thoroughly soured by that point. He hated petty theft--it was so boring, and the fact was that he had two cats with him, perfectly capable. It was time for something, some sort of plan.

They needed to expand anyway.

"Come," he instructed, walking down the alleyway.

[paranoid]

Cinder followed, sniffing softly, her claws slowly rubbing over her side. He definitely didn't sound too good, but she kept her idle thoughts to herself, and did as she was told.

[Rozumbrad]

Rozumbrad trailed behind, wondering what Fangor had in mind. It seemed to him that the tom had more than just getting food planned.

[Fangor]

Fangor led their small group forward through the alleys, turning by a few dumpsters, finally slowing near one, rats crawling all over the place. However, his attention wasn't on the feast at hand, but the land beyond it.

Jellicle territory.

He watched quietly with a sort of calm interest, a tongue dampening his lips once in contemplation.

[Rozumbrad]

Rozumbrad looked around, registering their location.

"What are you up to?" he asked. "You don't go into Jellicle territory for a snack."

He liked to know the schemes before he took part in them.

[Fangor]

"You're assuming," Fangor said, not looking the other in the eye, not deterring his glance. "You both. Get some rats. I need to think." And he studied the ground before climbing up on a parked and seemingly abandoned taxi. Perched at the top, he gazed. He'd never set foot on Jellicle territory, never thought about it, but now... it intrigued him.

[Rozumbrad]

Rozumbrad watched Fangor for a moment. He felt that someone was going to suffer soon. As long as it wasn't him, he didn't mind.

He looked at Cinder and shrugged in submission, heading off to stalk a rat.

[paranoid]

A soft cooing sound escaped Cinder's lips, something similar to a bird, before she started away, taking a different direction to Rozumbrad. She wasn't in a particularly good mood for hunting... didn't feel like it... would rather stretch out in the sun... yes... that sounded nice. Sounded like a good way to get her hide skinned too. Innerly sighing, she crouched down in her own corner of choice, waiting for her prey.

[Fangor]

"Mungojerrie's raved about the place," Fangor said complacently, attention still not drawn away. "Seems Rumpleteazer's at home here, too, and some others." A tongue slid over his teeth. "Supposedly there are some good fighters. And sanctuary."

[Rozumbrad]

"So?" Rozumbrad asked, flinging a pair of rats up, and climbing after them. "The Jellicles have always been there, and hardly anything worth worrying about."

Rozumbrad took a messy bight out of one rat, pointedly leaving the other one. "They're rather boring really."

[Fangor]

Fangor didn't reply as he took the second rat and bit into it, the blood that smeared on his jaw indistinguishable from his own. After chewing and swallowing, his body seemed to relax, almost more color to his blanch features.

"I'm interested," he simply said, "in what they have to offer."

[Rozumbrad]

"You mean what you can take," Rozumbrad corrected. He picked apart the rat with his fingers, careful not to muss his waistcoat.

"I assume you have something you're after, other than sating your bloodlust."

[paranoid]

Cinder slinked back to them, slowly returning with nothing in paw. She'd been unlucky. Or rather, lost interest. With a soft huff, she stretched out near the two, nose buried in the fur of her arm as bright eyes watched Fangor, ears perked curiously.

"I always like the Jellicles." She said, and though the smirk was unseen, you could hear it in her voice.

[Fangor]

"Oh?" Fangor murmured, licking his lips as he took another bite, still studying the grounds. "And perhaps, Brad. Perhaps." He scooted over, arm wrapping around Cinder's waist as if the touch would help him think.

"They have power. Tremendous power. A whole network." Temptation.

[Rozumbrad]

"They're usually pretty weak and pacifist," Rozumbrad said. "It takes a lot to rile them up. I can't see them being that tough."

He placed himself beside Cinder, not holding her as Fangor did, but letting their shoulders touch. He wasn't going to give up his game easily.

[paranoid]

Cinder gave a small purr, leaning against Fangor's touch gently. She couldn't say that she didn't like the touch. Partially she preened in it, not everyone got quite this same attention from him.

"They actually do have quite a bit of influence, believe it or not. Most of their cats are painfully foolish though."

[Fangor]

"It'd be nice for an expansion," Fangor said, letting the sentence hang in the air as he finished the rat, not elaborating on it save for a sideglance at the other two to see their reaction. Shock? Confusion?

[Rozumbrad]

"Expand?" Rozumbrad asked, rather doubtful.

"Don't you think if it were worth the effort Macavity would have done that by now?"

[Fangor]

Fangor pointedly ignored Rozumbrad, shifting his weight once more. "They treat it like a sanctuary. Jellicle territory. But why? It'd be so easy, wouldn't it?"

[Macavity]

"And what are we discussing?"

Macavity folded his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes at his two lackeys. "What would be worth the effort that I should have done by now?"

[Fangor]

Immediately, Fangor was on his feet, slightly hunched from a dizziness at moving too quickly with too little food. He coughed a little and cleared his throat.

"Nothing besides curiosity. The idea of expansion seemed appealing."

The truth from his end, though the rest was guarded. He made to speak again before lifting a hand, turning his head away as he coughed hard, feeling weak in his legs though he forced himself to stand.

And, were it anyone else but Macavity standing before him, Fangor wouldn't have offered, "Something wrong. I don't know what's wrong." A reference to his health, the fast decline.

[Macavity]

Macavity's lip curled, and he gestured hastily to whatever it was that Fangor had found. "Eat, you prat," he hissed. "Rozumbrad can elaborate for me, won't you?"

[Rozumbrad]

"Not really sure, Sir," Rozumbrad said, standing quickly.

"Something about the Jellicles, and putting them in their place."

Now, not the time to imagine if Macavity joined in the game. Do not imagine the boss kissing you. Bad Rozumbrad.

[Macavity]

"I said, elaborate." The cat's ears slowly lowered against his head, eyes narrowing. He wasn't pleased with his two henchmen at present, especially if they were gabbing about the Jellicles without his consideration.

[Rozumbrad]

Rozumbrad held up his hands in a small gesture of submission.

"That's it," he said. "Just, Jellicles suck, and we could expand. Fangor didn't say anymore than that."

He glanced at Cinder for support.

[Macavity]

Macavity's eyes fell upon Cinder. He waited for her response, too, and he hoped she'd give more information.

[paranoid]

Cinder looked up lazily, pawing over an ear, rolling onto her side with a soft sigh.

"I just followed them. I don't know what's going on. I was just bored so..." A slight shrug was given after her un-helpful remark. That's how it usually went, really. But, this time, she honestly wasn't sure of what was going on... just keeping the toms company.

[Fangor]

Fangor was highly unenthused about being questioned, and he made that clear by the expression on his face, one that was subservient for Macavity, and Macavity alone.